News article

Prestigious Awards for Devon and Cornwall Police Employee

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Release date: 20/Apr/2017 11:34Author ID: 120

Jenna Thomas recognised internationally for her innovative work

Strategic Analyst Jenna Thomas has won awards from both the Association of Crime and Intelligence Analysts (ACIA) and the International Association of Law Enforcement and Intelligence Analysts (IALEIA) for her work on the ‘Vulnerability Through the Years’ project.

The analysis carried out for the project has marked a significant shift in the way the Strategic Analysis Team in Devon and Cornwall Police gain insight into threat risk and harm to both victims and offenders based on citizens ‘life cycle’ journeys. It presents a rounded and succinct package of insightful analysis, all focusing on ‘the person’ rather than ‘the issue’ or ‘the service’.

The most significant impact evident from the analysis has been the use of the products to inform at the highest level planning and development of future approaches to prevention of harm and early intervention. The strategic methodology and subsequent evidence base which has never before been presented in this way has provided a clear strategic and tactical direction in which resources, budgets, understanding and partnership working will be delivered against now and into the future.

Jenna Thomas, Strategic Analyst said:

“When we first presented the Vulnerability project to a number of key stakeholders within the Force, I was really relieved that it generated such a positive response because we had invested so much effort into it and really wanted it to be useful to people, so it was great to hear that everyone thought the work had such a wide variety of potential uses and benefits.

“Winning the awards has added another dimension to this, because it is recognition and confirmation from well-respected and experienced professionals, that the analytical approach I have taken is innovative and a concept that could be adopted much more widely.”

Jon Borrett, Analyst Manager said:

“The ‘Vulnerability Through the Years’ project serves as just one example of Jenna’s hard work and diligence in providing a strategic analytical evidence base for senior leaders within Devon and Cornwall Police to be able to base their decisions. Jenna is a credit to herself, the Strategic Analysis team, Performance & Analysis Department, the wider Devon & Cornwall Police family and most importantly the community that we all serve.”

The ACIA is a UK and Ireland based organisation with over 1000 members and is dedicated to promoting the role of crime and intelligence analysis, helping its members to network and learn from each other.

As part of its mission ACIA organises an annual awards programme with an impressive set of judges including: Steve Heywood, Deputy Director NCA; ACC Richard Berry; Sherry from GCHQ; Edward Hampson, Head of analysis from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate; and Dr Spencer Chainey from UCL.

The judges reported a high quality set of nominations again this year and were extremely complementary about all entries.

The winners of the ACIA UK and Ireland awards were then nominated for an international analysis awards programme organised by the IALEIA who have several thousand members. Their award is for ‘Excellence in Analysis’ and nominations come from the best representatives from across the globe.

Jenna Thomas, Strategic Analyst said:

“It is extremely rewarding to see the work of U.K. police force analysts sitting alongside that of federal units from South America, US regional units and other diverse colleagues.”